Yieldable back support for seats



March 27, 1928.

F. c. BITZENBURGER YIELDABLE BACK SUPPORT FOR SEATS Filed Sept. 18. 19242 Sheets-Sheet 1 A m E:E%/

6H0: nu,

March 27, 1928. 1,663,898

F. C. BITZENBURGIER YIELDABLE BACK SUPPORT FOR SEATS Filed Sept. 18.1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fe /w C B/TZENBUEGEE.

Patented Mar. 27, 1928.

raisins. ormrznnnuseEn-i or nos'imonxiusaoemronme.

YIELDABLEBACK surronrr, ,ronl snn rs.

:AP'Plication filed September JMy invention relates to yieldablebacksupports for seats, morewparticularly for automobile jump'seats,anzd'the like and-the objects of my invention are": firstyto provide ayieldabl e back supporting meansi in connection with seats such .asautomobilejump seats or any seatsin .WliiC-h the-backs are movablerelatively tothe seatmember sec- 0nd, to provide ameans of this classwhereby the-back member of aseat'of'this class is pivotally mounted. atits'lower. sideatfthe upper portion of theback'side of'the seat memberand whereby the'back member may be variously'tilted about its pivotal-support in a back. supporting position; third,

to provide a seat structureof'thisclass, having a pivotallysupported'backmember'and a spring means contiguous to its pivotalsupport'for yieldably supporting the backmernher in a.back supportingposition;*fourth,

to provide an. adjustablespringimeans for yieldably supporting thegbackmember ;.ofa.

seat structure ofthis class and a novel means for variously adjustingthe movementof the I back member relatively to; the seat member;

fifth, to provide as a .whole anovelly constructed back supporting meansfora seat structure of this class, and sixth, to "provide a yieldablejback supporting means for seats of thisv class which is particularlysimple and economical of construction, durable, and which willnotreadily deteriorate or get out of order. s

lVith these .andotheriobjects in view, as will appear "hereinafter, 'my'invention consists of certain novel features of construction,combination and arrangement of parts and portions, as will behereinafter described, in

detail and particularly setforth in the ap- 40 pended claims, reference.being had to the accompanying drawings and to the characters ofreferencejthereon, which formva part of this application in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of my back supporting meanssupported'on a seat member, shown fragmentarily andinsection, and alsoshowing the back member supported by the supportingmeans,fragmentarily;Fig. 2 is a partial sectional andpar- 'tial' elevational view thereof,with the section taken through 2'2-offlFig.jl; Fig.'3 is a fragmentarysectional elevationalf-view .of a slightly modifiedform of constructionI of, my backjsupporting means. supported at 1a, 1924. Serial -No.738,439.

therear. portion of a seat member, shown -fraginentari ly and in,section, :and showing "also aportionoffthe suppoiftinglmeans partly'fbr'oken away and in section tofacilitatejthe illustration. "Fig;4.',is another side elevaitional ,VIBW' of another slightly modifiedform of "constructionnf back member supporting means, supportedat therearportron f of the seat member shown f fragmem tarily, ;and showingcertain' parts and portions. of the supporting means broken away and'insection to facilitate the,illustration; --Fig.: 5 is a' side elevationalviewof. another slightly modifiedform of constructionofiny ba'ck" membersupporting means for seats: fof this class showing the seat' memberflagmentarily and parts and V portions ofthe supporting means'brokenaway and in section to facilitatethe,illustration, and' FiggfifLikQLChELIZLCtBIS of reference refer to similar parts andportionsthroughoutithe several views of'the'drawings Theseat member'l,supporting bracket '2, supporting member *3, back member securingbracket 4, pin" 5,1back member fi, adjust- [ing member'7, adjustablebackpositioning HmemberAS, and the compression spring- 9, constitute .theprincipal {parts and portions ofmy back support ng means forseatsin itspreferred form of construction.

The seat memberfl of. automobile'jump seats,v positioned in the tonnea'uof automo- 'biles, is usually so mounted as tobe folded into the backside of 'the'frontseat of. the automobile or into theifloor of the same.In the preferredfform ,ofconstrnction, as shown in Figs. 1 and2, the,supporting bracket '2 is provided with a plate portion 2 whichisjsecuredto 'the topside of the board orothermember supporting the upbolstering of the seat member 1' byImeans of screws 2". "Theportionrof'the, bracket, 2 extending outwardly beyond the rear of theseat member. is considerably enlargedand extends upwardly at an angle.therefrom. The upper; enlarged'en'd ofthe bracket '2 is externallythreaded, asindicated by 2 ,-up on which end is screwably secured-"thehollow Lsupporting member 3, whichis, provided at its upper end with; a"bifurcated portion 3* in which'is'pivotally mounted,'by meansiof a pin{5, theiback membr" securing bracket r is afragmentirry rear elevationalviewthereand knurled, as indicated by 7 in Fig. 1.

This adjusting member 7 is in the form of a sleeve and is internallythreaded throughout its length. Within the internally threaded portionof the adjusting member or sleeve 7 is screwably positioned thecorrespondingly threaded end .8" at the normally lower end of the backpositioning member 8. This back positioning member 8 is provided at itsupper end with a reduced shank 8 flat tened on its opposite side to awidth slightly less than the space between the outwardly extending legsat'thev bifurcated portion 3 of the supporting member 3. This reducedflattened shank 8 is reciprocally mounted in the space of the'bifurcatedportion and is prevented from rotating relatively thereto by reason ofthe flattened shank 8 thus permitting the adjusting member 7 to berotated relatively to the supporting member and the member 8 foradjusting the latter member longitudinally. The sides of the supportingmember 3 are provided with cutaway portions 3 so that the member 7 mayfbe readily accessible for rotating the same and adjusting the positionof the member 8. At the upper end of the bracket 2 is provided a recess2 in which positioned a compression coil spring 9 which supports at itsupper endthe lower end of the adjusting member 7. The lower end of thebracket 4 securing the back member 6 is provided with a downwardly andbackwardly extending lug 4 which is adapted to engage the upper end ofthe back positioning member 8 for yieldably supporting the backmember inan uprightposition. I

It will be noted that the tension or compression of the spring 9 is notvaried, but

' the position or angularity of the back member is varied by theadjustment of the member 7. It will also be noted that the lower end ofthe member .7 engages the upper end of the member 2 forming a stop whenthe spring 9'is compressed sufficiently.

In the modified form of construction,

shown in Fig.3, the bracket and supporting member are combined into asingle. member,

10 which is provided with a plate 10 secured to the seat member 1 in asimilar manner and which is provided at its upper end with a bifurcatedportion 10 in which is pivotally mounted thedownwardly extending lug 4of the back securing member 4 by means of the pin 5. At the'lower end ofthe bifurcated portion10" of the bracket 10 and at the frontside thereofis secured, by means of a screw 12, the forward end of the offsetleaf'spring 11. The outer end of the spring 11 which extends through thebifurcated portion is adapted to be engaged by the backwardly extendinglug i" of the bracket 4, asdescribed in connection with the preferredconstruction, for yieldably supporting the back member 6 in upright oruseable position. The bracket 10 is provided at the lower rear portionof the bifurcated portion with a stop 10 for limiting the backwardlytiltable position of the back member.

In the other modified form of construe tion, shown in Fig. 4, thebacksecuring member, indicated by 13, is also pivotally supported at itslower end, by means of a pin 5, at the upper end of the supportingbracket 4 secured to the under side of the seat member 1. In thisform-of construction, however, the spring, indicated by 15, ispositioned at the lower portion of' t-he bracket 13 and is mounted overthe member 16 of the plunger 16 which forms; a stop with the end of themember 17, said plunger 16 being yieldably positioned and reciprocallymounted at the lower end of said bracket. The upper end of the spring 15is engaged by the lower end of th'e adjusting member 17, which isprovided at its lower ,end with an enlarged externally threaded vided abackwardly extending lug 1 1 which is adapted to be engaged by the lowerend of the plunger 16 for positioning the back member 6 relatively totheseat member.

In the other modified form of construction of my back supporting means,as shownin Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings, the bracket member 13 is alsopivotally mounted at its lower end in a bifurcated port-ion 14:" at theupper end of the bracket 14 secured to the lower side of the seatmember 1. At the bifurcated portion 14 and below the pivotal connectionof the members 13 and14= is secured, by means of a screw 12,'the frontend of an offset leaf spring 11. At the back side of the bracket 13 areprovided a pair'of lugs 13and'13 for supporting the adjustlargedexternally threaded portion 17 c which extends into the threaded recessof the lug ing member 17 the upperend of the ad- 7 justing member being.provided with an enrotating the same ,and adjustingthe samelongitudinally. Said member- -17 is ;pro-

roller 18 which is ada-pted'to engage the offset'portion of the springllfor -yieldably ings shows the latter; supportingmeans positioned at andsupporting ones'ide-ofthe seat -m'ember-and back. member.

It is obvious from this ;construction,;as

illustrated in the I drawings and disclosed in the foregoingspecification, that there is proevicted a yieldable, back supportingstructure for seats, as aimed at and set forth in;tl 1e 7 and portionsand certain modifications thereof, I do not wish to be limited tothispartic- ;tion is alsogprovided witlna knobflT for videdat its lowerend' with. a bifurcated portion l7 Y in which gis-revolubly mounted aper=end,-=a supportingmember secured; to; the uppererfdofsaid-supportingbra e r back membersecuring;brackeupivetally:mounted at the upper portion ofsai.

her and; provided with a, backwardly extend-- urpe ngi eming lug, a backmember secured to ,said

supporting thebackimemberifi relativelyto the -seatimemberl. Q-Fig-ure16:,of thedrawa a back -'pos-itioning ;memb,er provided z'With anenlarged externally threaded portion .at its lower end adapted to Iextend into the internally threaded ,portion of said adjusting .robjects of the invention, and though I have backmember securing bracket,an; internally threaded adjustingmember rotatably ,posili-ioned w1thmsa1d supportlng member, and

member and provide at its upper endavith a flattened shankadapte'd toextend upwardly through I a. space of "slightly greater -Wldilllback-Wardly extending lug ,of said-back member securing bracket.

ular: construction, combinationand arrangementnor to themodificationsbut desire to Y include in thescope of my invention theconstruction, combination and; arrangement sub- 7 stantially as setforth in the appended claims.

gHavln'g thus CleSCIlbBdJlly invent on, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent,-is:

1. .In vback --support1ng' means, aqsupcured to the, upper end thereof,;a; backmemupper end of said supporting member and i porting bracket,avzsupporting member se-.

4. In, a back supportingwmeans, ;a supporb' vmg bracket provided w thlwFGGCSSFlIl :LtS upper end, i a supporting; member: securedto theupper:- end of 'S alClgSHppOIi/ing bracket,qa back member securing{bracket ',.pivotally mountedz at the upper portion =of s'aid sup.

porting vmember and; providedwitha backwardly extending lug, a{back-,member seqcured to saichbaek-membersecuring bracket, aninternally threaded adj tlStiDg memben ro-. tatably positioned withinsaid supporting anember, a back positioning member provided withanenlarged externally threaded portion at its lower end adaptedtosextendinto the in- ,ternallythreadedportion of said adjusting;provided with a backwardly:extendinglug, back member securedqtmsaidbackmember; securing bracket, an internally ithreaded sleeve revolublymounted within said supporting member, and a 'back positioning memberprovided with La threaded pQI- tion at its normally l lower :endextending into said internally threaded sleeve and adapted to engage atits upper end the lug 1 of said back; member securing bracket,

1 2. In a back supporting means, a-support- 'bracket secured to saidseat -,membcr-and ing bracket, asnpportingmember secured to the upperend thereof, a back member secur- 5;

- m,'a ppo t l g: nembersecuredto the 3. In a back supporting means, asupporting bracket provided with a recess in its upmember and provided,at-its Vupperend with a flattened shank adapted to extend 1up-.

wardlythrough aspace of slightly greater widththan saidl'flattenedshank, and engage the backward-1y extending lug of. said back membersecuring bracket, and. a: compression espri ng withits oneencbpositionedinthe recess at the upper end ofsaid supporting 1 member and provided atitsupper end-with a v I normally lower end jofssald ad] usti 11g member.

5. Ina-seat supporting means of the class descrlbed, a seat :member,supporting extending "backw ardly and upwardly the-reupper end of saidsupporting bracket and provided at its upper end with a bifurcatedportion, a back member securing bracket pivotally mounted at the upperportion of the bifurcated portion of said supporting member and providedwith an extended por tion extending backwardly from its pivotal supportbetween the legs of said bifurcated portion, a back member secured tosaid back member securing bracket, an adjusting member rotatablypositioned within said supporting member and provided with internalthreads, at back positioning member provided with an enlarged externallythreaded portion at its lower end adapted to engage the than said-flattenecl-sl1ank;and ;engage the 7 internal threads of said adjustingmember and also provided with a reduced flattened upwardly extendingshank of slightly less thickness than the space between the legs of thebifurcated portion of said supporting member to prevent relativerotation between said members, said'reduced flattened upwardly extendingshank being adapted to be engaged by the backwardly extending portion ofsaid back member securing bracket, saidsupporting member being providedwith cutaway portions at its opposite sides to facilitate the rotationof said adjusting member.

6. In a seat supporting means of the class described, a' seat member, asupporting bracket secured to said seat member and extending backwardlyand upwardly therefrom, a supporting member secured to the upper end ofsaid supporting bracket and'provided at its upper end with a bifurcatedportion, a back member securing bracket pivotally mounted at the upperportion of the bifurcated portion of said supporting member and providedwith an extended portion extending backwardly from its pivotal supportbetween the legs of said bifurcated portion, a back member secured tosaid'back member securing bracket, an adjusting mem-' ber rotatablypositioned within said supporting member and provided with internalthreads, a back positioning member provided with an enlarged externallythreaded portion at its lower end adapted to engage the internal threadsof said adjusting member and also provided with a reduced flattenedupwardly extending shank of slightly less thickness than the spacebetween the legs of the bifurcated portion of said supporting member toprevent relative rotation between 7 said members,

said reduced flattened upwardly extend-.

ing shank being adapted to be engaged by the backwardly extendingportion of said back member securing bracket, said supporting memberbeing provided with cut away portions at its opposite sides tofacilitat-e the rotation of said adjusting member, and a compressionsprlng positioned with its one end against the supporting bracketextending into siiid internally threaded sleeve and adapted to engage atits upper end the lug of said back member securing bracket. 7 V

8. In a back supporting means, a supporting bracket, a supporting membersecured to the upper end thereof; "a back member securing bracketpivotally mounted at the upper end of said supporting member andprovided with an extending lug, a back member secured to said backmember securing bracket, a threaded sleeve revolubly mounted within saidsupporting member and a back positioning member provided with a threadedportion at its normally lower end engaging said threaded sleeve andadapted to engage at its upperend the lug of said back member securingbracket. 7

9. In a back supporting means, asupporting bracket, a supporting membersecured thereto, a back member securing bracket pivotally mounted insaid supporting member and provided with an extending lug, a back membersecured, to said back member securing bracket, a threaded sleeverevolubly mounted within said supporting member and a back positioningmember provided with'a threaded portion at its nor-r mally lower endengaging said threaded sleeve and adapted to engage at its upper end thelug of said back member securing bracket. a

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at-Los AngelesCalifornia, this 11th day of September, 1924,

FRANK o. BITZENBURGER.

